Seeking to upgrade your work environment from hectic to healthy in the New Year? Check out these surprisingly easy tips below and strive to make 2015 as stress-free as possible.

Start Meetings with Clear Intentions.Focus your team by setting straightforward and attainable goals. This way, you’ll step out of Conference Room B feeling like you’ve actually made progress.

Create a Quiet Space. Designate a room for silent contemplation. The area will serve as a haven away from noisy cubicles (i.e., gossiping neighbors) and promote relaxation.

Partake in Charity Work. Gather coworkers and give back to your community. You’ll build stronger work relationships and feel good about your high-five-worthy contribution.

Practice Active Listening. A.k.a., put the cell phone down and engage in meetings. Show that you’re paying attention with nods and smiles, be open to fellow attendees’ input, and provide honest feedback.

Showcase Positive Values. People thrive at companies where they feel appreciated. Offer meetings that help build, flesh out, and spread your company’s values.

For all the season’s highly anticipated (or soon-to-be-planned) occasions, these are the classy, flirty, and fancy dresses I simply can’t say no to.

Dream Job
Looking to stand out in an interview? Skip the scented résumé and opt for this classic pencil dress with a jewel neckline. It’s a silhouette they’ll expect in a color they’ll never forget.

Date Night
The perfect balance between modesty and mystery – this fun, flirty number brings attention to your waist and legs without showing too much skin.

LPD
Every season calls for the ever-versatile LPD (little print dress). This modern update on the polka dot is both work- and party-appropriate.

Girls’ Night
There are some looks that only our girlfriends can truly appreciate. With shoulder-to-hem ruffles and double buttons on the cuffs (this isn’t your average shirtdress), just wait for the all-approving jaws to drop.

Black Tie
First: find the perfect dress. Second: find the perfect occasion. This is the kind of floor-length gown we plan parties around.

You heard it here first: Style is alive and well in Boston’s clubby, white-shoe financial world, and we’ve met a man who proves it. In a city that some would say “plays it safe” when it comes to fashion, it was refreshing to find someone who isn’t afraid to push the envelope. Here, our favorite financial planner dishes on his style dos and don’ts.

Rue La La: You work in a very conservative town in an uber conservative profession – how do you incorporate some risks into your style?Andrew: I wear pocket squares that match my ties, I incorporate a ton of pink, and I also wear argyle or colored socks that work with my tie’s color scheme.Continue reading “Local Style: Fashion in the Financial World” »

DEANNAGRUBBS, DIRECTOR OF RETAILMERCHANDISING AT JOHNSTON & MURPHY,DISHES ON CAREERDRESSING

Office-appropriate attire is no longer limited to navy dresses and pinstripe suits, but it’s sometimes a fine line as to what flies in the workplace. Our Members shared vexing career clothing questions, and we’re turning to Deanna Grubbs, Director of Retail Merchandising at Johnston & Murphy, for answers on how to take on the work week in style.

Q.No one likes to iron! Is it possible to avoid ironing work clothes?
– Julie via twitter @Jkchavanne

A. Start by selecting fabrics that naturally have wrinkle-resistant properties – such as jersey, wool, and polyester – quite common in dresses and pants. If you prefer the look and feel of cotton, many brands offer styles that have been specially treated to be wrinkle-resistant. In our men’s apparel line, we have a selection of Easy Care shirts that can literally be taken right out of the dryer and worn wrinkle-free. Poly/cotton blends are more common in women’s shirts, and the blend naturally offers wrinkle resistance. And if you insist on 100% cotton, try hanging your clothes in the bathroom while showering to “steam” out the wrinkles. It’s not as good as a press job, but it’s better than nothing.Continue reading “Style File: Your Work Wardrobe Questions Answered” »

Word of a major stylista in buttoned-up D.C. perked our ears right up. We had to see this uber chic (and totally successful) PR pro running around the city for ourselves. With a whole lot of sophistication and a splash of French influence, Leslie Kerns is living proof that fashion and professionalism can mix – no matter what your politics.

Rue La La:First of all, talk to us about your high-influence job.Leslie: I run the communications division of a public affairs firm headquartered in D.C. We help progressive non-profits, campaigns, and other mission-focused organizations meet their advocacy, organizing, fundraising, and public relations needs. My firm is fairly entrepreneurial – which means “all hands on deck” is not just a phrase but a way of life. Running from client meeting to staff meeting to a new business pitch – sometimes on the other side of D.C., and sometimes by phone as I head to New York or elsewhere – means I have to move quickly and adapt to many different environments.Continue reading “Local Style: Creative Chic Plays Well in D.C.” »